Forging-press.



E. L. McGARY.

FORGING PRESS.

APPLICATION mm SEPT- 20. 19-16.

1,286,687. Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. L. McGARY.

FORGlNG PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 20. 1916.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

E. L. McGARY.

FORGING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-20. I916.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- E. L. McGARY.

FORGING PRESS.

0G 1 4 ,T Q E nuw n m AM e 4 6 t a P 6 M 0 2 P E s D E L H N 0 H A C H PP A EUGENE L. MCGARY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FORGING-IPRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

Application filed September 20, 1916. Serial No. 121,107.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE L. MCGARY, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Forging- Presses,of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to forging presses.

It is now common practice to form ammunition shells by forcing a tool orpiercing die operated by a hydraulic ram into a pot containing a chargeof'ductile metal to form the usual chamber in and form the shell. Inthis operation, the metal is subjected to very high pressure, e. g. 1200tonsto sufficiently densify the metal for use as an ammunition shell.According to present practice, the forging tool is operated by a ramwhich is operated by fluid under ressure and the organization of theparts 1s such that the stroke of the piercing tool is more than doublethe length of its penetration in the pot to provide the necessaryclearance'between the pot and the forging 'or piercing tool for removalof the forged shell and recharging of the pot.

Because of the high fluid-pressures involved in forging these shells,the operation of the ram is costly and any reduction of the length ofthe stroke of the high pressure ram 'and the length of the stroke of theforging tool relatively to the pot effects a very substantial savin inpower and cost of operation and pro notion of the shells. The primaryobject of the present invention is to provide a forging press which maybe economically operated as a result of organizing it structurally so asto reduce to the practical minimum the clearance' portion of the strokeof the forging tool without affecting the facility with which the shellcan beremoved and the not recharged. This object is attained primarilyby providing aplurality of forging tools or dies and moving themlaterally away from the top of the pot to leave clearance between thetools for convenient removal of. the forged shells in lieu of operatingone tool longitudinally away from the pot to pro: vide the necessaryclearance for the withdrawal of the forged shell from the pot.

In these forging machines, excessively rapid operation of the toolscauses breakage and deformation owing to the high temperature of theductile metal in which the tools operate and as a result, the speed ofproduction is correspondingly limited. A still further object of theinvention is to provide an improved forging press having an increasedoutput or capable of more rapid operation than is possible when thesingle forging tool is employed. This object is attained by providing aplurality of forging tools or piercing dies and alternately operatingthe tools in the ductile metal and in a cooling liquid. It has beenfound that cooling these dies between the forging operation is conduciveto their longevity.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved strippermechanism for the shells which is operablein conjunction with a forgingtool to which a short stroke is imparted.

Lastly, the invention is designed to provide a forging press which maybe economically operated and has a great capacity.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter setforth and more par ticularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a forging pressembodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is avertical section, the forging dies being shown in position assumed atthe commencement of a forging stroke. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3, showing the forgingtools in position assumed'when a forged shell has been ejected from thepot. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 66 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7is a section taken on line 77 of Fig. 3, showing the parts in positionassumed after a shell has been forged and during the withdrawal of theforging tool, the stripper being shown in operative position.

The press comprises a base 8 suitably supported upon a solid bed 9,standards 10 on the upper portions of which is rigidly mounted ahydraulic ram comprising a cylinder 11 provided with a head 11, and apiston 12 working in the cylinder and for operating the forging tools ordies. This ram is provided to impart the working stroke to the forgingtool and is adapted to be operated by'fluid under high pressure to forgethe shell. A head 14 on the piston 12 is suitably guided on thestandards 10. Mechanism for imparting the idle stroke to the piston-head14 and piston 12 comprises a 'pair of cylinders 15 mounted oncylinderhead 11*, pistons 16 working in said cylinders respectively,cross-heads 17 secured to the upper ends of the pistons 16 and rods 18connecting the cross-heads 17 and the piston head 14. It will beunderstood that the usual connections for supplying fluids under thenecessary pressures to the operating and retracting cylinders and forexhausting such fluids, and controlling valves therefor are provided, aswell understood in the art.

The forging mechanism comprises a pot 20 which receives the billet ormetal in ductile condition and is provided with a chamber 21 conformingto the outer periphery of the forging to be made. The pot 20 iscontained within a holder 22 having a flange 22" which is secured to thebase 8 and a ring 23 is fixed to the holder and overlies a shoulder 24on the pot 20 to replaceably hold the latter in bottom of the pot 20 andis operated by fluid in a cylinder 27 containing a piston having astem27 which is operatively connected to the ejector. The function of thise]ector is to lift the forgedshell out of the pot and into positionindicated in Fig. 5.

The forging tools or dies 29 operated by the head 14 are adapted toenter the ductile charge of metal in the pot and to forge and form themetal into a shell. A plurality of dies or tools'29 are provided andboth of these dies have their upper ends screwthreaded to and secured ina cross head 30 which is slidably mounted in a guide 31 secured to thelower face of the movable head 14 of'the ram. Cross-head 30 is connectedto the rod 32 of a piston in a cylinder 33 which is adapted to beoperated by fluid under pressure to reciprocate the cross-head 3Olaterally to alternately bring the forging dies or tools into coaxialposition with the pot 20.. The stroke of the cross-head 30 is limited sothat it will be arrested in correct position for the entry of the tools29 in proper position in the pot 20. A bearing plate 34 is provided onthe underside of head 14 to engage the cross head immediately above theactive forging tool or dies so that the latter will be solidly backedfor operation by the movable head 14. The lateral space or clearancebetween the piercing tools is sufficient to permit removal of the shellbetween them so that the necessity of elevating the forging tools ordies for sufficient vertical clearance between them and the pot .topermit removal of the shells, will be zwoided, a

By providing a plurality of forging tools or dies which are alternatelyoperated to forge a shell, it becomes possible to cool the tool or dieduring its non-working stroke and for this purpose, cooling tanks 35 aremounted on the base 8 laterally of the pot 20 and are so disposed thateach tool 29 during its non-working stroke and between its workingstrokes will be immersed in the cooling liquid to reduce itstemperature. As a result, the invention is particularly adapted forpresses in which high temperatures are involved. Pipes 35 supply coolingliquid to said tanks and pipes 35 conduct the hot water from the tanksso that water will be constantly circulated through these tanks.

Mechanism for stripping the shell from the forging tools comprises a bar37 mounted on the upper ends of arms 38 which are pivoted, as at 39, tolugs 39 on the base flange of the pot-retainer 22. Stripper bar 37 isadjustably connected to arms 38 by nuts 40 to adapt the stripper. forshells of different lengths or pots of different heights. Bar 37 has arecess 41 therein so that the bar can straddle or pass around the activeforging tool or die and pass into position to restrain the upwardmovement of the shell while the forging tool is being retracted.l/Veights 42 on arms 43, which are connected to arms 38, serve tonormally swing the stripper-bar 37 into operative position above the pot20. A chain 44 connected to one of the arms 43 and to the piston head 14of the die-operating ram swings the stripper laterally to' release theshell near the end of the retractile stroke of the forging tool, so thatwhen the tool has been completely withdrawn from the pot, the stripperwill have moved into position to permit removal of the shell. A ring 45fits in the upper end of the pot 20 to guide the forging tool and thisring is usually forced away from the pot as the metal is forged intoshell form, as shown in Fig. 7.

The operation of the improved press will be as follows: Assuming thetools to be in position shown in full lines in Fig, 5, a charge ofductile metal is put into the pot. The forging tools 29 are thendisposed laterally of the upper end of the pot so that the latter willbe accessible for charging purposes. Next, ring 45 will be placed in thepot. Fluid under pressure will then be admitted to cylinder to shift thepiston therein to one end of its stroke which will bring one of theforging tools or dies 29 into position for entry into the charge ofmetal in pot 20. Fluid under pressure will then be admitted to cylinder11 to cause head 14 to force the forging die or tool 29 into the metalin the pot and to forge the metal into shell-form, as well understood inthe art.

When the forging operation has been c0inpleted, fluid under pressurewill be admitted to cylinders 15 to raise head 14 and retract piston 12.During retraction of the forging tool, the stripper bar 40 will be inoperative osition to release the shell from the tool. hear the end ofthe Withdrawal stroke of the tool, chain 44 will be operated to swingthe stripper bar toward the rear of the pot so that the shell will befree to be lifted by the ejector and removed manually. Next, fluid underpressure will be admitted to cylinder 33 to brin the cross-head 30 intoposition to hold t e forging tools 29 substantially in position shown infull lines in Fig. 5. This disposition of the tools will leave the spaceabove the'pot clear and accessible for removal of the shell. Fluid underpressure will then be admitted to cylinder 27 to operate the ejector 26,which will lift the shell into osition indicated in Fig. 5. From thisposition, the operator can readily remove the shell from between thetools. In some instances, the operator can remove the shells while thetools are moving laterally so that they need not be arrested at theintermediate position shown in Fig. 5. 'After recharging the pot, fluidunder pressure will be admitted to cylinder 33 to bring the tool 29,which has been inactive during the last operation, into position toforge a shell in pot 20. The operation of the head 14: will then berepeated as before. During each forging operation, the idle forging diewill pas into one of the tanks 35 containing cooling fluid and will becooled thereby. After each operation of the forging tools, thecross-member 30 will be operated laterally to clear the space above thepot for the purpose already set forth, and to bring them alternatelyinto position for a" forging operation.

The invention exemplifies a forging press \Vhl(h comprises a pluralityof forging elements which are movable laterally between the forgingoperations to provide clearance and space for removal of the shell andcharging the pot and with such a construction the working stroke of theforging tools is reduced so that it is not necessary to leave Verticalclearance approximately equal to the length of the shell between the potand the forging tool. In fact, the stroke will be approximately nogreater than the distance necessary to move the tool into the shell anda slight clearance between the shell and the tool. The importance ofthis feature may be realized from the circumstances that in someinstances where heretofore the stroke of the arm has been 78 inches, thestroke has been reduced to approximately 27 inches and this reduction inthe stroke effects a very substantial saving in power required for theoperation of the press. The invention further exemplifies a press inwhich the forging-tools or dies are alternately cooled and worked andthis alternate cooling avoids deformation which frequently results whena die is worked in too rapid succession.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a forging press, the combination of a pot for holding a charge ofmetal, a forming tool adapted to enter the top of the pot and forge themetal therein, fluid pressure operated mechanism for operating the toollongitudinally into and out of the pot, mechanism for shifting the tooltransversely to alternately'bring it into position for a working strokeand to clear the space above the pot for removal of the forging, anejector normally positioned in the bottom of the pot and mechanism tooperate the ejector from the bottom of the pot into position above thepot and for removal above the pot. 2. In a forging press, thecombination of a pot for holdin a charge of metal, a forming tooladapted to enter the top of the pot and forge the metal therein, fluidpressure operated mechanism for operating the tool longitudinally intoand out of the pot, mechanism for shifting the tool transversely toalternately bring it into position for a working stroke and to clear thespace above the pot for removal of the forging, an ejector normallypositioned in the bottom of the pot, mechanism to operate the ejectorfrom the bottom of the pot into position above the pot and for removalabove the pot, a stripper for the tool and mechanism for operating thestripper to an inoperative position during the operative stroke of theejector.

3. In a forgingpress, the combination of a pot adapted to receive andhold a charge of ductile metal, a plurality of tools each adapted toforge the metal in the pot into the same shape, fluid-pressure operatedmechanism for operatin the tools longitudinally to forge the meta saidtools being transversely movable, mechanism for shifting the toolstransversely to alternately bring them into position for a workingstroke, and means for lifting the forging out of the pot after eachoperation of one of the tools.

4. In a forging press,the combination of a pot adapted to receive andhold a,charge of ductile metal, a plurality of tools each adapted toforge the metal in the pot into the same shape, fluid-pressure operatedmechanism for operating the tools longitudinally to forge the metal,said tools being transversely movable, mechanism for shifting the toolstransversely to alternately bring them into position for a workingstroke, means for lifting the forging'out of the pot after eachoperation of one of the tools, means for stripping the forging from thetools dnrin 'he retractile stroke of the press, and. men shifting thestripping means into in. tive position to permit the ejector to forgingout of the pot.

5. In a forging tin not adapted t metal, a tool for forging the metal inth pot, fluid pressure operated mechanism for operating the toollongitudinally, a stripper for separating the forging from the tool,means for holding the stripper normally in operative position around thetool, and means operated by said mechanism for operating the stripper toan inoperative position.

6. In a forging press, the combination of a pot adapted to hold a chargeof ductile metal, a tool for forging the metal in the pot, fluidpressure operated mechanism for operating the tool longitudinally, astripper for separating the forging from the tool comprising a notchedbar, and an arm to which the bar is adjustably connected, means forholding the stripper normally in operative position, and means operatedby said mechanism for operating the stripper to an inoperative osition.

7 n a forging press, the combination of a pot adapted to hold a chargeof ductile metal, a tool for forging the metal in the.

Weight for holding the stripper normally in operative position, andmeans operated by said mechanism for operating the stripper to aninoperative position.

8. In a for ing press, the combination of a pot adapted to hold a chargeof ductile metal, a tool for forging the metal in the pot, fluidpressure operated mechanism for operating the tool longitudinally, astripper for separating the forging from the tool, a weight for holdingthe stripper in operative position, and a flexible connection operatedby said pressure mechanism for operating the stripper to an inoperativeposition.

EUGENE L. MoGARY.

